Device for grinding the pistons and measuring chambers of water meters



May 1, 1945. F, B -SIMPSON 2,374,784

DEVICES FOR GRINDING THE PISTONS AND MEASURING CHAMBERS OF WATER METERS File d Oct. 19, 1942 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 INVENT OR ATTORA/E).

y 1, F. B. SIMPSON 2,374,784

DEVICES FOR GRINDING THE PISTONSAND MEASURING CHAMBERS OF WATER METERS Filed Oct. 19, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ATW/VEX V May 1. 1945. F, SIMPSON 2,374,784

DEVICES FOR GRINDING THE PISTONS AND MEASURING G CHAMBERS OF WATER METERS v Filed 0!;12. 19, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 15 FIG. 13. Fr 6. 14.

F1 c2 16. FIELD/-63. J/MPJa/v,

\ .INVENTOR.

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- Patented May 1, 1945 AND MEASURING C METERS WATER Fielding B. Simpson,.Richmond, l nd., assignor of one-third. to Charles Plauche, Lake Alfred, Fla and one-third to Harrington-Hoch, Incorpo- I rated, Richmond, Ind., a corporation oflndiaiia Application October 19, 1942, Serial No. 462,480

7 Claims. (CI. 51-26) This invention relates to devices for grinding the pistons and measuring chambers of water meters. t

The object of this invention is to provide a grinding device which is somewhat automatic in its operatio in that after being set for the commencement of a grinding'operation no attendant is needed, provision being made automatically to stop the grinding operation either as the result of an over-load or an under-load. My invention is particularly applicable to grinding-in new over-size oscillatory piston discs in the repair of the measuring chambers ofmeters which have become worn through use.

In accordance with my invention a new disc piston, slightly over-size, may be placed within the water meter measuring chamber, the halves of which are slightly separated to prevent undue pressure between the circumference of thedisc and the spherical walls of the chamber. Oscillation is caused by the rotation of a shaft, preferably driven by an electric motor. The grinding machine proper is provided with means for pressing the chamber halves toward one another until the grinding pressure between the piston disc and the walls of the chamber is thegreatest practicable for satisfactory grinding; The machine is then left to operate without an attendant and will continue to operate and grind until thepiston disc has either become ground away until its friction has decreased to a predetermined load, or until through expansion or other cause its resistance to oscillation has increased beyond a predetermined setting of the machine.

When the machine has stopped, the operator returning to it determines whether it has stopped because of over-load or under-load. If it is for over-load the operator will back off the clamping mechanism slightly t separate the halves of the measuring chamberto relieve the pressure usually caused by expansion of the disc. If the machine has stopped on account of under-load the operator will re-start the machine and tighten the clamping mechanism until the loadstands somewhere between the upper and lower limits. When the two halves of the measuring chamber eventually have been pressed together to their shoulders and the machine eventually stops because of under-load, the operator knows that the clearance between the disc andthe walls of the chamber are of the proper degree and that the grinding operation has been completed. 7

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. l is an elevation, partly in section, of the preferred form of the machine with a measuring chamber in place to be ground.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine shown in Fig. l with the measuring chamber removed.

Fig; 3 i a face viewof the left-hand chamber clamping member of Figs. 1 and 2, showing also the driving disc. I

Fig. dis a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a face view of the particular type of driving disc assembled in the clamping member of Figs. 3 and 4. v

Fig. 6 is a, section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5..

Fig. 7 is a left end elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a right end view of the left or over load clutch operating element.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9+9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a left end view of the over-load clutch element.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line II-l I of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the middle clutch element. Y Fig. 13 is a section'on the line 13-43 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14' is a right end view of the under-load clutch element.

Fig. 15 is a section on the line I5-45 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a left end view of the under-load clutch controlling member and drive pulley.

Fig. '17 is a ection on the line l1l'| of Fig. 16.

Fig, 18 is a modified form of under-load and over-load control.

Fig.19 is an end elevation of the switch operating member and switch circuit used in the modi-.

fication shown in Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 19.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and .2, a base and frame member 25 carries bearing mem bers 26 and 2'! within and between which a shaft 28 rotates. A thrust bearing 29 surrounds the shaft 28 adjacent and abutting the bearing 26.

Attached to and always rotating with the shaft 28 and abutting the thrust bearing 29 is an overload clutch control disc 30, Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 9.

operating with the clutch control disc 30 is a clutch disc 31 provided with a hub 38 having an axial Opening 39 of such size as to provide a working fit about the hub 3I of the over-load clutch control disc 30. Pins 42 and 43 extend through the hub 38 in 'positions to enter the opposite ends of the slot 33 and to rest upon the steps 34 and 35 or to fall into the spaces between the steps 34 and 35 and the opposite walls of the slot 33. Tension springs 45 and 46 extendbetween the clutch control disc and the clutch 31 and,

are given such normal strength or tension that they hold the pins 43 and 44 on top of the steps 34 and 35 respectively, and againsttheir associated edges of the slot 33 unless and until the torque I,

between the clutch disc 31 and the clutch con-' trol disc 30 exceeds the pre-determined over-load torque. When this happens thexpins 42 and 43 will move off of the steps 34 and 35 respectively permitting the clutch disc 37 to move to the left to releasethe clutch hereinafter described.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 28 and to the right of the clutch disc3-I is a disc '50, Figs; 1L2, l2 and '13, having friction surfaces 5I and 52.

The surface 5| being adapted to contact the right-hand face of the clutch disc 31 and the surface 52 being adapted tov contact the left-,

hand face of clutch disc 54, Fig. 14. Thedisc 54 and its associated partsaresimilar tov the disc 31 and its associated parts, and the disc .56 and its associated parts are similar to the disc 30 and its associated parts, excepting that the springs 58 and 59 are of less normal tension than springs audit and are of such strength and tension that they are continuously stretched beyond their,

normal condition sufiiciently to permit the pins 60 and 6| to be held by the. driving torque in positions over the steps62 and '63 and against ihe faces of the slot 64 above the steps 62 and Aroller -65 carried on the end of a IeverBG pivoted. at 6I may be forced between the clutch control disc 56 and the clutch disc 54 by the downward movement of the projecting end of the lever 66 topreve'ntthe pins 60- and BI from dropping off of the steps '62 and '63 respectively as the machine is being started.

'A thrust bearing surrounds the shaft 28 and abuts the "right face of the pulley and clutch control disc 58. A double flanged collar 69 abuts the'ri'ghtface'of the thruS't be'arin'g-BB. The 001- 'In order that an operator may test the resistance to rotation of they shaft 28, a suitable hand wheel 15 is attached to the left end of the shaft 28. 1

-A chamber clamping member. I6 is threaded onto therbearing 2'! as shown in Fig, 4. This clamping member as here shown constitutes a jig for holding a particular type of meter measur' ing chamber I8 here illustrated, It is to be un derstood, however, that various types of measuring chambers areto be clamped in my regrinding machine andthat the clamping member 16 will be variedin formto suitthe particular type 'a threaded shaft '81.

of measuring chamber being ground. In the particular form illustrated, a plate 80, Figs 3 to 6, is

provided with an eccentric opening 8| into which the eccentric operating projection 82, Fig. 1, ex-

tends, and by which the disc to be ground of the I water meter receives its oscillating motion through therotation of the plate 8i); Different makes of meters have different shaped operating levers corresponding to 82, some being mere pins without rollers, some being flat wings. It is to be understood that the plate may be provided with various kinds of openings. Two additional openings 83 and 84 are shown in dotted lines on Fig. 5.

A second chamber clamping member 85 is threaded onto a collar 85 journaled on the end'of The shaft 87 extends through a hub 88 at the center of a link 90 which has one end pivoted to the base and frame mem ber at BI and the other end attached to the base and frame member at 92. To make it convenient to put in and take out different meter measuring chambers, the link 90 is freed at its lowered end and swung about its pivot 9| until it rests against the support 94. A hand wheel carried on the end of the threaded shaft 8! facilitates the adjustment of the clamping member 85 against the right half of the measuring chamber 78. A shield QB'carried on the threaded shaft '3'! may beswung I upwardly againstthe sto 91 in which position it prevents-water or grinding compound which is splashed upwardly out of the measuring chamber I8 from spattering beyond the machine base; When the shield "96 turned downwardly in the position shown in Fig. '2, it is out of the way of the operatorwhen putting in or taking out measuring chambers to be ground.

In accordance with the modification of my invention illustrated inFigs. 18, 19 and '20, the pulley 56 is fixedly applied to the shaft 28 and all of the clutch and clutch operating devices are omitted. The over-load and under-load characteristics performed by the clutches, springs and clutch control discs of the preferred embodiment are here incorporated in a switch mechanism comprising a standardlflfl supporting ordinary make and break snap switches IIII, 102 and I03. The operating lever I 05 of switch ID-I and the operating lever I06 of switch I02 are engaged respectively by-arms I08 and 109, the arm I 08 moving upwardly to open switch -I=0I and the arm I09 moving downwardly to open switch I02. The arms I08 and -lfl9 are carried upon a vertical shaft III] moved Joya cross shaft I-I 2 rpivoted at IMon the support I00. The'opposing-end o-f the lever I I2 carries a pulley I16 which rests upon the driving half of the V-belt -I-I'I ata pointsub stantially midway between the pulley 5B and the pulley II9 of the drive motor I20. -Aspr-ing Iii app'liesa predetermined downward pressure upon th'e pulley I I6 and consequently createsapredetermined normal depression at the center of the belt I I7. The-lower end of the vertical shaft III] is provided with the piston I22 within an oil chamber I23 to'forma dash pot to .prevent rapid up and down movement of the vertical shaft IID due to variations in the width of the belt and similar abnormal condition. The snapswitch I03 is hand operated and is connected tobridge the switches Ill] and "I112,- the latter switches being connected in series with one another so that the closing of switch 103 completes the circuit r the motor I20 and the simultaneously closing'ofithe switches NH and TI 02 'ma'intainfthe circuit of the m'otonafter the switch I03 has beenmanually opened-J i In the operation of the preferred embodiment of my invention a measuring chamber having an over-sized disc in it and being provided internally with a suitable grinding compound is placed between the clamping members 16 and 85 and the.

hand wheel 95 is turned until the halves; of the measuring chamber press upon the external edge of the; disc to be ground with such pressure as theoperator determines by the hand rotation of the'handwheel I to be slightly less than the maximum desirable for satisfactory grinding of over-sized discs. At this time the motor or other source of power for driving the pulley 55 has been started and the pulley 56 is rotating, but the clutch faces 5I and 52 are. not now in operating contact with their respective clutch discs 31 .The. operator therefore presses downwardly on the projecting end of lever 66 forcing the roller 65 between the clutch control discs 56 and the clutchdisc .54 to move the pins 60 and BI out of their slots and above theupper surfaces of the steps 62 and 03 respectively. The operator and 43 of the over-load clutch rest upon their 7 steps 34 and 35 respectively because the strength of the springs 45 and 46 exceeds the torque. If

now for any reason the torque becomes greater than the reaction of springs 45 and 46, those springs will be stretched and the pins 42 and 43 will dropinto the portions of the slot 33 adjacent the steps'permitting the clutchmember 31 to move to the left away from clutch;face 5| releasing the clutch and stopping the machine. If on the other hand, the torque becomes less than the reaction of the springs 58 and 59, then arelative rotation will take place between the clutch control disc and pulley 55, and the clutch disc. 54 and the pins60 and 6! will drop off of the steps 62 and 63 permitting the clutch disc 54 to move to the right away from the clutch face 52, releasingthe clutch and stopping the machine. By v the proper selection-of strength of springs for the over-load and under-load clutch mechanisins, the machine will come to rest either when the load has decreased due to a proper portion of the piston disc having been ground away, or elsethe machine will come to rest because of too rapid grinding and consequent heating and expansion of the disc being ground.- When the machine has stopped the operator can tell by observing which clutch face has moved away from the clutch disc 50 whetherthe machine has stopped because of an excessive torque or because of an under torque. If the under torque condition occurs before the halves of the measchamber walls until tablished. i

In accordance with the chine to proper torque by hand testing, closes the switch I03 which :starts the motor I20. When the motor has been started the operator closes both switches IM and I02 andthen'opens switch I03.- So long as: the load remains within the acceptable limits as determinedby the setting of the spring tension of spring I2I, the machine will continue to operate. If the torque becomes too great the pulley llfi'willberaised,'thevertical shaft IIO lowered, and'the switch I02 'o'perated to open the circuit and stop the motor I20. Conversely, if the torque becomes too, light the spring I2I will pull the pulley II'G downwardly, raising the vertical shaft H0 and openingthe switch IOI to stop the motor. Upon the return to the machine the operatormay test by rotating the hand wheel I5 to determine which condition has stopped the machine, thesame as in the operation of thepreferred modification of my invention. I I

AlthoughI have illustrated and'described my invention with respect-to a preferred form and a modification, it is to be understood that -I do not wish to be unduly limited thereto, mechanical equivalents of the embodiments herein illustrated and described being within the purview of my of their separation maintained parallel, a rotatable shaft for wabbling the piston between the measuring chamber sections, power means for rotating the shaft, a clutch-for interrupting the power connection-with said shaft, and a hand wheel on the shaft for testing its resistance to rotation to guide the operator in the adjustment of said manual means; I r

Y 2. A machine for regrinding water meters which have measuring chamber sections .with'a wabbling piston between them,"said machine having a pair of parallel facedjigs for holding the measuring chamber sections, manual meansjfor advancing one of the jigs toward the other whereby the water meter measuring chamber sections are advanced toward one another with the planes of. their separation maintained parallel, a rotatable shaft for wabbling-the piston between'the measuring chamber sections, power means for rotatingthe shaft, a clutch for interrupting the power connection with said-shaft, and over-load and under-load control devices for said clutch for disengaging the clutch faces in response to either a predetermined high resistance to the rotation of said shaft or to a predetermined low resistance to the rotation of said shaft.

3. A machine for regrinding water meters which have measuring chamber sections with a wabbling piston between them, said machine having a pair of parallel faced jigs for holding the measuring chamber sections, manual means for advancing one of the jigs toward the other whereby the water meter measuring chamber sections are advanced toward one another with the planes of their separation maintained parallel, a, rotata proper-torque is-iagain es modification or 1 Figs; 18, 19'and 20 the operator after setting the ma-s to be contacted by said mechanism to open the able shaft for wabbling the piston between the measuring chamber sections, power means for rotating the shame clutch for interruptingithe power connection with said shaft, and lover-load and -under load control 'devices :for said clutch for disengaging the clutch faces in response to either a predetermined high resistance to the rotation of said shaft or to a predetermined low resistance to the rotation of said shaft, and a hand wheel on, the shaft for testing its resistance to rotation after it has been automatically stopped to guide the operator in the adjustment ofsaidmanualmeans a l 5;. A .machine for regrinding water meters which have measuring chamber sections with a wabbling piston between them, said machine haV-1 ing a pair of parallel faced jigs for holding the measuring chamber sections, manual means for advancing one of the jigs toward the other where-f by the water meter measuring chamber sections areladvanced toward one another with theplanes of their separation maintained parallel, a:rotatable belt pulley and shaftfor wabbling the piston, an electric motor having a belt pulley, a belt for conducting power from :the motor pulley to said shaft pulley, mechanism having .a part contacting said belt at a point intermediate the motor and shaft pulleys and adapted to be moved to difierent positions responsive to changes. of torque being transmitted from the motor pulley to the shaft pulley through said belt, an over-load switch in the circuit of the motor having its actuating lever in position to be contacted by said mechanism to open the switch when'the pull on the belt causes it to approach a straight. line between measuring chamber sections, manual means for' advancing and withdrawing =onefof the jigs .toward ,and from the other whereby the water meter measuring chamber sectionssapproac'hand recede from one another with the. .planes of their separation maintained parallel a rotatable belt pulley and shaft for wabbling the piston, an elec trio-motor having a ;belt pulley, .a beltfor-con-i ductingpower from the motor :pulleyto said shaft pulley, a mechanism contacting said :belt at a point intermediate the motor and the shaft pulleys and moved to different positions :responsive to different amounts :of torque transmitted from the motor pulley to theshaft pulley through said belt, an over-load switch .in the circuit of the motor having its actuating levenin position switch when the pull on the belt causes it to approach a straight line between. the motor pulley andthe shaft. pulley, and an under-load switch in .the circuit of the motor having its actuating lever in position to be contacted by said meananism to open :the switch when the pull on the belt decreases causing it to assume less than a predeterminedangle at the intermediate point betweenthe motor and the shaft pulleys at the position at which said mechanism contactssaicl belt, and 'a hand wheel on the shaft for testing its resistance to rotation to guide the operator in the adjustment of said manual means.

6. 'In a water meter measuring chambergrind and said first under-load clutch member adapted when aligned to hold-said members apart, means to press said clutch members and said iabutments toward one anothertocreate driving friction be tween the clutch mem'bers, a spring extending between-the clutch control member and the first under-load clutch member tending to force said abutments out 'ofalignment with one another, said* spring being stretched to an extent proper to hold. said abutments in'alignment with one another by the normal -operati1'ig torque between the clutch control member and the first clutchmember. a I 1 7. in'a water meter measuring chamber grind" ing -machine; a driving shaft, "a driven-shaft aligned with the' driving shaft, an under-load clutch control member surrounding and carried by'sa'id driving shaft, a first under-load clutch member surrounding and "carried by one of saicl shafts, 'a second clutch member surrounding and carried by one of; said shafts, "axially alignable abutments on said clutch control memberand said firstwunder-load clutchmember 'z'adapted when aligned to hold said members apart, means topress said clutch members and said abutments togetherto create driving frictionbetween the clutch members, a spring extending between the clutch control member and the first under-load clutch member tending to force said abutments out or alignment with one another, said spring bein-g' stretched to an extent proper to holdsaid .abutments inalignment withoneanothe'rby the nor-"mall operating-torque between the clutch control member and the first clutch member; and manuallyoperable means for, holding-said clutch control member :and sai'd'first underload clutch meniber apart, an'dthe first and second clutch members iii-engagement with one air-other while starting the rotation o'f-said drive shaft. v

rmnnma 1a. smrson 1 

